How is the PMP Certification different from I.T. “certs”?

Unlike I.T. “certs”, PMP Certification is a Professional Credential.

• Measures vocabulary, the documented body of knowledge, some standard protocols or practices
• The ability to perform at a certain level is not measured and can only be assumed
• In most cases, there are no experience or prior educational requirements; there are no ethical standards or code of conduct required to maintain the credential; the only requirement to earn the “cert” is the ability to pass an exam
• Certifications are bestowed by the individual owners of the “certification” exam, often a for-profit organization; recognition of the “certification” may vary from cert to cert and from organization to organization

Professional certifications (e.g., PMP, CPA, ABA BAR) are Competence based and, as such, are best described as credentials as opposed to simply certifications:

• Infers a candidate’s ability to actually perform professional tasks (e.g., Project Management) at a given level
• Encompasses both knowledge of the subject and the necessary skills to apply that knowledge
• Certain experience and educational requirements are required and must be verified (++)
• Credential is bestowed by a non-profit, professional association (e.g., PMI, AICPA, ABA, etc.) and, sometimes by local authorities (countries or states). In the case of the PMP, the credential is bestowed and monitored by PMI, a globally recognized not-for-profit, professional association.
• Continuing professional education and professional development activities are required to maintain the credential (e.g., for PMP, 60 professional development units each renewal cycle; this can include seminars, formal education, participation in PMI activities, publications, lecturing and teaching, etc.)

Although approximately 50% of PMP holders work in the I.T. sector, the PMP credential is not an I.T. “cert.” The only connection between the PMP credential and the I.T. sector is that, just like marketing, construction, government, architecture, research & development, political campaign and space mission projects, I.T. projects need to be managed and, therefore, using PMPs to manage the projects verifies that the credential holder has certain experience, knowledge and education; that the individual follows a code of professional behavior; and that the individual has committed to on-going continuing education and to making contributions to the PM profession. — Oh, and yes, that the person passed a rigorous exam, though that is only one part of earning the credential.